THE Royal family will be in town when the Duke of Westminster's daughter is married at Chester Cathedral.

The guest list for the marriage of Lady Tamara Grosvenor to Edward van Cutsem, on Saturday, November 6, reads like a who's who of the Royal family.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and William and Harry are all expected to attend.

The Prince of Wales, a close friend of the Duke of Westminster, will be with Camilla Parker Bowles. There is also a possibility Prince Edward and his wife Sophie may attend.

Princess Anne is due to open a building at University College Chester early in November but it is not known whether she will be staying on for the wedding. The Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester are also guests.

Cheshire police, including armed officers, will work with members of the Royal Protection Squad to ensure watertight security.

Sniffer dogs and specialist officers will search the cathedral, its grounds and even the drains for anything suspicious.

St Werburgh Street, Abbey Street and Abbey Square will be closed to the public.

After the service guests will return to the Grosvenor family residence at Eaton Hall for a spectacular party.

The announcement of the couple's engagement was made in March.

Lady Tamara studied theology at Newcastle University and is known to enjoy hunting. She was previously listed at number 10 in Tatler's Little Black Book of Eligible Dates.

Mr van Cutsem, 30, works in finance in the City and is a childhood friend of the young princes - Prince William could be best man. His father Hugh van Cutsem and mother Emilie, of Hilborough, Norfolk are good friends of the Prince of Wales.

A short statement by Grosvenor, released at the time of the couple's engagement, said: 'Both families are very happy and excited. No date has yet been set for the wedding but further details will be announced in due course.'No further statements are being issued at present.

PRINCE William is the hot favourite to be best man at the wedding of his pal Edward van Cutsem and childhood friend Lady Tamara.

Mr van Cutsem, 30, was a pageboy at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981 and, despite being several years older than William and Prince Harry, is said to be regarded by them as a brother.

Lady Tamara, 24, and her sister Lady Edwina are friends with the princes, who attended Tamara's 21st birthday bash at Eaton Hall.

Little is known about the rarely photographed Lady Tamara, but during a Chronicle interview with the Duke and Duchess of Westminster in December 2001 it became clear she was close to her younger sister Edwina.

At the time Lady Tamara was studying theology at Newcastle University and Lady Edwina was reading criminology and sociology at Northumbria University.

Their mother the duchess, 45, who has two other children, Hugh, 13, the Earl Grosvenor, and Lady Viola, 11, said: 'We are hugely confident in them. They are very level-headed, sensible and fun-loving but very wise.'

Her husband the duke, 52, one of Britain's richest men, said: 'It is exceedingly nice to say one is proud of one's children and mean it.'

Lady Tamara is known to enjoy the outdoor life including riding and hunting. A couple of years ago the heiress was pictured hunting with hounds in the Cheshire countryside, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Lady Jane.

Her fiancé is Prince Charles's godson and, aged eight, was a pageboy at his wedding in St Paul's Cathedral. He was photographed alongside the couple on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The couple spent their wedding night at the van Cutsems' Norfolk estate. When the prince's affairs with Camilla Parker Bowles became public knowledge, it emerged that they had trysts in a house rented on the Sandringham estate by the van Cutsems.

Edward lives in a flat near Sloane Square, coincidentally in the same street as his fiancée. He works as an investment banker for Merrill Lynch in London but is expected to eventually take over the family seat of Hilborough, where his father is a self-employed farmer and bloodstock breeder.

He was once touted as a possible chaperone to Prince William on his gap year to South America.

His mother told the Eastern Norfolk Daily Press she was overjoyed at the news of her son's engagement to Lady Tamara, who she described as 'a real country girl'.

Mrs van Cutsem said: 'It is absolutely wonderful. It is so lovely and they are so happy. I have suspected this for a while. Her parents have been great friends of ours forever and we have even spent family holidays together.

'The children have known each other for a very long time. They have grown up together and that is what is so wonderful about it.

'She is just the nicest possible girl and is a great credit to her parents. I'm really happy because she is such a thoroughly sweet and enchanting girl.'

The Duke of Westminster, who has lost a lot of weight during the past year, is looking at the peak of fitness in readiness to give his daughter away. The duke, who still chain-smokes, contracted a nasty leg infection last summer which put him in hospital for a few days. Since then he is said to have cut his alcohol intake and led a healthier lifestyle. After the wedding he is due to fly to Iraq in his capacity as Major General of the Territorial Army.

Tatler magazine has published its annual 100 Most Invited list in the August issue. Topping the list of this year's key social players is Jude Law and his girlfriend Sienna Miller, but Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara came in at number seven.

PRINCE Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are unlikely to arrive together for a high-profile wedding at Chester Cathedral - despite living together in Clarence House.

Royal watchers say the situation may seem 'ridiculous' to the outside world but there are several reasons why the pair might not be coming as a couple to the wedding of the Duke of Westminster's daughter Lady Tamara Grosvenor and Edward van Cutsem.

Protocol could dictate that Camilla cannot be Prince Charles's escort in front of the Queen, who is also a guest. It may be that they been invited separately or might not want to overshadow the happy couple by arriving together.

Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said: 'If they don't arrive together I suppose we could think that's a bit ridiculous but they may not want to take attention away from the bride. They have these things to think about. I would not read too much into it.'

She suggested another reason could be that Charles and Camilla have each been invited in their own right because they are not married.

'That's probably the correct way of doing it,' she said. 'Some people might see it as being a bit old-fashioned in this day and age.'

Nevertheless, Camilla's presence at the wedding will represent a small step closer to the relationship becoming 'official'.

Majesty's managing editor Joe Little said: 'I think it is significant. There are very few events where the Queen has been present.

'She was in Westminster Abbey for the 50th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation and the year before she was at a pop concert in the garden of Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's Jubilee. She was at the Queen Mother's funeral in Westminster Abbey. You could count the number of occurrences on one hand.'

Mr Little believes William and Harry will not have a problem with Camilla's attendance at the ceremony and the reception at Eaton Hall.

'The perception is they want what is best for their father,' he said. 'They want him to be happy.'

Bells will be ringing in Chester a week tomorrow to mark the fairytale wedding of Lady Tamara Katherine Grosvenor and Edward Bernard Charles van Cutsem. DAVID HOLMES looks back at the life of Chester's most eligible young woman.

THE Duke and Duchess of Westminster will be the proudest parents on earth when their beloved eldest daughter, Lady Tamara, is married in Chester Cathedral in eight days time.

No amount of money can be weighed against the happiness of them seeing their daughter exchanging vows with the man she loves and who has been a welcome visitor to their home since childhood.

The Duke and Duchess are right to be proud of Lady Tamara, 24, who was brought up on the Eaton estate, went to the village school in Eccleston and is a pleasant and popular visitor in and around Chester.

Little has been written about Lady Tamara, or her sisters and brother, which says a lot about how their parents have been able to shield them from unwanted intrusions.

But insiders say Lady Tamara is just as you would imagine a young lady from an aristocratic background to be. She has been brought up with good manners and, whether encountering a prince or a postman, is polite to everyone she meets.

Despite being brought up as a member of the ruling elite, there is no 'do you know who I am' about her. Like her family, she is not a snob and does not look down on anyone.

Tamara, who studied theology at Newcastle University, is a deep-thinker, sensible and serious-minded. She does enjoy socialising and is good fun and good company, but never goes off the rails and has never let down the Duke.

Those who know her say she is similar in looks to her father and like him, is a naturally reserved and private person.

Described as a country girl, Tamara loves animals and adored her pet dog as a child. Nowadays she enjoys horse-riding and hunting. She spent time sheep-shearing in Australasia during her gap year before university.

In contrast to her outdoors image, Tamara looks transformed when wearing make-up and dressed for a high-society occasion, just as she will be on her big day.

She and Edwina have always been close despite their contrasting personalities. Edwina, who celebrates her 23rd birthday on Thursday, two days before the wedding, is more gregarious.

In the past the pair have been out on the town together. Often the destination has been Liverpool, partly because Chester is a little too close to home, but they do socialise in the city.

Her groom, Edward van Cutsem, a banker in the City of London, is a long-time family friend who has been visiting Eaton Hall since he was a child because the two families have always been close. He is treated as a member of the Grosvenor family.

He is a friend of the young royal princes, Prince William in particular. He is also Prince Charles's godson and, aged eight, was pageboy at his marriage to Diana in St Paul's Cathedral.

Both princes are coming to Chester for the wedding, along with the Prince of Wales, Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Windsors are also close to the Grosvenors and have often spent fun and relaxing times together. Both the young princes attended Lady Tamara's 21st birthday party at Eaton Hall, which was described as a lavish bash. Likewise, the wedding reception at Eaton Hall is expected to be a no-expenses-spared occasion, with a spectacular fireworks display in the evening.

Retired Canon Lawrence Skipper, 87, of Handbridge, who will officiate the wedding, is busy making sure everything is in place for the service, which will also involve the bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, who will perform the blessing, and the dean, the Rev Dr Gordon McPhate, who will greet the 650 guests expected at the cathedral.

Canon Skipper told The Chronicle of his fondness for the bride and groom. He said: 'She's absolutely shining. There's no side to her at all. She went to university as Tamara Grosvenor and there was no standing on ceremony. Edward is absolutely delightful.'

If that is truly the reason he will not attend the wedding of his godson then I am appalled. However it seems like a rather trivial reason, especially considering the length of time the two of them have lived like this. They would be used to it by now you would think.

On another note, who decided the seating arrangments? They too should be ashamed as it is not as though this wedding is an official engagement of Prince Charles's so he should be allowed to sit with whom ever he chooses.

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It'll take place at Chester Cathedral this coming Saturday. The Queen and the Duke of Edinborgh will be there, as will William and Harry. Charles's decision to stay away from the wedding of his godson because he can't sit next to his mistress is really pathetic, IMO. If he wants her to be recognised as his legitimate companion, he should do the honest thing and marry her. Otherwise he should just have a bit of consideration for the people involved in this wedding and sit where he's told to sit. If he's pulling this stunt in protest against the protocol required because of the Queen's presence, then he's delivering a snub to the Queen as well as to the Grosvenors. He's getting more and more like Edward VIII every year.

It'll take place at Chester Cathedral this coming Saturday. The Queen and the Duke of Edinborgh will be there, as will William and Harry. Charles's decision to stay away from the wedding of his godson because he can't sit next to his mistress is really pathetic, IMO. If he wants her to be recognised as his legitimate companion, he should do the honest thing and marry her. Otherwise he should just have a bit of consideration for the people involved in this wedding and sit where he's told to sit. If he's pulling this stunt in protest against the protocol required because of the Queen's presence, then he's delivering a snub to the Queen as well as to the Grosvenors. He's getting more and more like Edward VIII every year.

I think his reasoning behind not doing the "honest thing and marrying her" is because he is then forced to give up his place in the lines of succession.

I know most people would argue, "If you love someone it shouldn't matter..." But Charles has been brought up in the world knowing he will one day become King of his country. He was brought up with the idea of putting Country first, and has been trained for 55+ years of his life to become the King. That's kind of like going all the way through medical school etc and then being told you can't become a Dr. because of some trivial reason. It's not a fair reasoning, but it is what is and Charles and Camilla seem to recognize that reasoning, but they aren't going to just hide in the darkness, and they shouldn't have too...this is a private affair, whether the Queen is going to be their or not. And Queen Elizabeth should recognize that as well. SHe is not going to this wedding because it is a Royal event, or because it's some official engagement that she has to fulfill, she is going because the families are close family friends (and if I'm not mistaken distantly (very distantly) related) and she is going as a personal friend...not as the Queen. It would be different if it were the other way around and the wedding was a scheduled official event of Royal standards, but it's not its a society wedding and while the Queen should be treated with the same Royal respects there should be no need for Charles not to be allowed to sit next to the woman he loves as every other guest will be permitted to do.

However as I said before, I don't really think the reason Charles isn't going to the wedding is really just because he's not allowed to sit next to Camilla. He has something, I've read, that he is doing, visiting with families of soldiers or something of the like. I think this story is a good way to create a drama filled story for the press...

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I think his behaviour is incredibly tacky. It's not the Grosvenor's and van Cutsem's fault that there's protocol to be followed. Camilla should be happy she was even invited considering the rumours that she had been talking bad about the van Cutsem's sons. Aside from that, Edward is the Prince of Wales' godson. I don't think he should be bailing on the wedding just because he's annoyed about the seating arrangements.

Not only is he being incredibly disrespectful to the couple and their families, he's also be disrespectful to his parents.

[OT] Kelly9480, you don't happen to post on Fametracker, do you? No real reason for asking...just curious. [/OT]

Edward, 30, is a godson of the Prince of Wales, and key figures from the Royal Family and aristocracy are expected to be among the 650 guests.

The Queen, Prince Philip and Princes William and Harry are all expected to attend.

However, the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles will not be in the congregation at Chester Cathedral, reportedly in protest that she was to be seated several rows behind her long-term companion.

Charles will be at Warminster in Wiltshire visiting relatives of Black Watch soldiers serving in Iraq.

Novelist Jilly Cooper spoke up for Mrs Parker Bowles as she collected her OBE award for services to literature at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

"I think it's ridiculous," Ms Cooper said.

"They're a couple. Why does everybody go on about everything. I love her and I just want her to be happy," she said.

As so many high-profile people will be attending, security around the wedding will be tight.

Guests have reportedly been told to turn up with a passport photo before being allowed into the cathedral.

Lady Tamara, 24, the eldest of four children, is set to share in a slice of the duke's £4.9bn estate.

Last year her father was named Britain's richest man in a Sunday Times Rich List survey and his estate includes 100 acres of Mayfair and 200 acres of Belgravia in London.

Lady Tamara was previously listed at number 10 in Tatler magazine's Little Black Book of eligible dates, and the couple are well known in society circles. They announced their engagement in March.

At the time Mr van Cutsem's mother, Emilie van Cutsem, said: "It is so lovely and they are so happy . . . she is just the nicest possible girl and is a great credit to her parents.

"I'm really happy because she is such a thoroughly sweet and enchanting girl. I'm absolutely thrilled."

Mr van Cutsem, a City financial broker, was a page at the Prince's wedding to Lady Diana in 1981. He is a former member of Breckland Council.

He is close friends with William, who is reportedly an usher at the wedding, and Harry and was filmed playing with them in the snow in a TV documentary about Charles.

His father Hugh is a millionaire stud owner and previously lived near the Sandringham Eastate. Their family home is Hilborough House, near Swaffham.

I think his reasoning behind not doing the "honest thing and marrying her" is because he is then forced to give up his place in the lines of succession.

Well, then, he should take that risk if he wants society to recognise Camilla as his equal companion. Or he should leave things as they are and just shut up when his mistress is treated differently from how his wife would be. He's trying to have it both ways, and he's being selfish and dishonest in the process. He isn't just any old person who married the wrong woman and now has a chance to be happy with his soulmate; he's the future King and future head of the Church, and he's behaving like an idiot. He's putting the Queen in a really difficult position with his desire to have Camilla - a divorced woman and one of the reasons that his marriage collapsed - recognised as his legitimate companion by the Queen, who's the head of the church even when she's off duty. He's asking the head of the Church of England to go into a CofE cathedral and turn a blind eye to him and his divorced (which amounts to "married" in the eyes of the church, as far as I know) mistress, sitting there like a married couple. It absolutely beggars belief. I assume this is part of his plan to force the country from the Queen on downward to recognise that he and Camilla are a legitimate pair. Well, as far as the church, and hence the Queen, is concerned, they aren't. That's just one of the prices that has to be paid by a man with extraordinary privileges; there are also extraordinary demands, and so far he seems to be ready to take the former while trying to avoid the latter. Not a very good example to set the country or his sons.

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However as I said before, I don't really think the reason Charles isn't going to the wedding is really just because he's not allowed to sit next to Camilla. He has something, I've read, that he is doing, visiting with families of soldiers or something of the like.

This war won't be over any time soon. He could visit the families any time - he could take a bit of time out of his private life in some other area than avoiding his godson's wedding.

According to some reports the reason Camilla won't attend the wedding is because she thinks the seating arrangements are less to do with protocol and more to do with a rift she has had with the Van Cutsems for the past few years. Emelie Van Cutsem expressed concern about the influnce cocaine taking Tom Parker-Bowles had over William and Harry to which Camilla responded by making unfounded allegations about the Van Cutsem boys which she only retracted under the threat of court action by Emelie. Apparently Charles isn't going bacause of Camilla's view on things but he seems to be again displaying his usual fence sitting. He decided not to attend Tom Parker-Bowles book launch because, according to one aide, "He thinks this will balance things out". It seems that in his bizarre logic this says to the Van Cutsems "Well I have snubbed you but I've also snubbed Tom Parker-Bowles so everythings O.K." His indecision on certain matters appears to be a chronic character ailment. He either thinks that Camilla is wrong and thus attends the wedding or he thinks the Van Cutsems are wrong so should have attended Tom's book launch but it seems he wants to please everyone but in doing so has pleased no one.

Charles will not necessarily lose his right of succession for marrying Camilla. If he gets the Queen's permission, he can marry her. If he doesn't get the Queen's permission, he simply has to announce his intention to marry her and wait one year. If no objections are raised (I think they have to be raised in Parliament) he can marry her.

The Church of England revamped the marriage rules. But Charles could also marry in Scotland or in a register office.

Her dress is splendid! I love the silhouette, the tiara and the veil, too!
The only little thing that I don't enjoy: the lines of embroidery(?) on her skirt...
The neckline is so perfect, exactly what I would have worn for a winter wedding.

I don't understand what the protocol on this site is for posting photos. Do I just shove the links on to the message? Please advise...

Topic? Her wedding dress is okay. I actually don't think it's anything special but it's not ugly or anything. She managed to find pick something that went okay with her body shape, which is always a good thing.